Byrdena (Birdie) Furino Oct. 5, 1922 – Nov. 19, 2022

      It is impossible to encapsulate the life of Byrdena (Birdie) Furino in just one word, but the one that comes closest is love –love for God, love for family, and love for the Anamosa community. For 100 years, until our Lord called her home to Heaven on Nov. 19, 2022, Byrdena shared her unlimited reservoir of love with everyone blessed to know her. Byrdena's love for God was at the center of her life. She was always in the front pews for mass at St. Patrick Church, she prayed daily for the people in her life, and she enthusiastically embraced a faith-inspired life in every possible way. Her love for God never wavered, even during times of personal tragedy; in fact, it was her deep and unconditional love for God that sustained her during those difficult times.

    Byrdena's love for her family knew no bounds. She married her beloved husband Henry (Hank) Furino in 1940, and they were married for 55 years until Hank passed in 1995. She continued to proudly wear her wedding ring for the next 27 years. Together, they owned and operated Hank's Hardware and Appliance, a pillar of the business community on Main Street in Anamosa for almost 40 years. During that time, Byrdena and Hank raised two wonderful children, Patty and Bob, in a house that was always filled with neighborhood kids laughing and playing. Byrdena was also a leader for Patty's Bluebirds, Camp Fire, and Horizon girls' clubs, teaching the next generation how to live their best lives. Byrdena embraced her role as grandma with a special kind of love. When they were little, she loved having her grandsons and granddaughter sit on her lap in her rocking chair, sometimes all three at once, to read books and tell stories. She loved visiting them in California and having them visit Iowa, and was over the moon when they finally moved back to Iowa. She loved having the entire family together at the cabin on Lake Delhi, cruising the lake on the pontoon or watching her grandchildren and great-grandchildren fly around on innertubes behind the speedboat piloted by her son Bob.

    Byrdena's love for her Anamosa community was also something to behold. She knew everyone in town, and over the years spent thousands of hours just "visiting" with friends. Anytime a community member needed a shoulder to cry on, a sympathetic ear, or a big loving hug, Byrdena was right there. She loved volunteering, whether it was as a member of the hospital auxiliary, driving patients to doctor appointments and chemotherapy treatments, helping St. Patrick students with reading, or serving at funeral dinners. She was the "First Lady" of Anamosa during Hank's two stints as mayor in the 1960s-1970s. In 1998, Byrdena was awarded the Anamosa Community Service Award. In 2012, in celebration of Byrdena's 90th birthday, the local coffee shop introduced "Birdie's Blend," a specialty coffee drink that is still on the menu today. And this year, the Lawrence Community Center sign honored her as she celebrated her 100th birthday.

    A Mass of Christian burial will be held Saturday, Dec. 3, 2022, at St. Patrick Catholic Church in Anamosa at 11 a.m. Visitation will be from 9:30 to 11 a.m. There will be a lunch served in the church basement immediately following the Mass and an internment at Oakwood Cemetery in Monticello. Father Sean Smith will officiate and Deacon Bean will assist with the Mass. Goettsch Funeral Home has taken Byrdena and her family into their care. By visiting Goettschonline.com you may share your thoughts, memories, and condolences with Byrdena's family and sign the online guest book. You may access the live service by going to Goettschonline.com and then clicking the Watch Our Live Services on Facebook button which will direct you to our Facebook page. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to St. Patrick School or Starlighters Theatre or Anamosa Community Hospital or Unity Point Health-Jones Regional Medical Center Rhythm of Life Department.

    Preceding Byrdena in death were her parents, Clarence and Elsie Stutt; her brothers, Walter and Bob Stutt; her husband, Henry (Hank) Furino; her son, Robert Furino; father-in-law, Joseph and his wife Hazel; sisters-in-law Caroline, Mary, and Camilla; and brother-in-law Joe and his wife Jean.

    Surviving is her daughter Patty (Dan) Gilmore; her three grandchildren Jerry (Jane) Marks, Todd (Lorrie) Marks, and Kelly McIntyre; and five great-grandchildren Jordan Marks, Taylor Marks, Christian Marks, James McIntyre, and Patrick McIntyre. Also surviving is son-in-law James Marks; sister-in-law Antoinette; and paternal nephews and nieces Joe, Jack, Craig, Janice, Susan, Mary Jo and Jodi.